Package construction and method of making

ABSTRACT

A PACKAGE THAT ALLOWS INSPECTION OF THE FOUR SIDES OF THE ARTICLE CONTAINED THEREIN THROUGH ARTICLE VIEWING AREAS ON OPPOSED SIDES. THE LARGE OPENING ON ONE SIDE IS COVERED BY A PIECE OF TRANSPARENT, RIGID PLASTIC THAT HAS A RAISED PORTION TO ACCOMMODATE THE FRONT AND SIDES OF THE ARTICLE TO BE VIEWED AND HAS FLANGES AT ITS INNER END WHICH ARE JOINED TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE PACKAGE ADJACENT THE VIEWING AREA. THE OTHER ARTICLE VIEWING AREA IS NOT COVERED AND IS SMALLER THAN THE DIMENSIONS OF THE ARTICLE CONTAINED IN THE PACKAGE. IT ALLOWS INSPECTION OF THE REAR OF THE PACKAGE. THE ENTIRE PACKAGE IS HELD TOGETHER BY A PRESSURE SENSITIVE GLUE WHICH IS APPLIED TO THE PACKAGE&#39;&#39;S INNER SURFACES.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Rudolph A. Froehlig College Point. .\'.Y. [211 App]. No. 835,555 I [22] Filed June 23, 1969 [4S] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Modern Album and Finishing Co., Inc. College Point. NJ. Continuation-impart oi application Ser. No. 815,160. Apr. 10,1969.

[54] PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl... 206/78 [51 1 lnt. Cl 365d 73/00 [50] Field of Search 206/78 (B), 78, 80 (A), 80

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,314,535 4/1967 Jarecki 206/80(A) 3,157,279 11/1964 Sarnsing 206/78(B) 3,135,384 6/1964 Cozzolino. 206/80 3,029,938 4/1962 Soltz 206/79 2,931,494 4/1960 Pfohli 206/78(B) 2,491,423 12/1949 Snyder 206/78(B)UX 2,302,045 11/1942 Neumann et al 206/78X Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Anorney Norman N. Holland smaller than the dimensions of the article contained in thepackage. it allows inspection of the rear of the package. The entire package is held together by a pressure sensitive glue which is applied to the package's inner surfaces.

PATENTEDJuN28|9n 3587,8453

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PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING CROSS REFERENCES The present application is a continuation-in-part ofcopending U.S. application Ser. No. 8l5,l60 tiled in the United States Patent Office on Apr. 10, l969.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has been a common marketing practice to sell consumer articles such as tape cassettes in attractive packages which have a number of article viewing areas which are either uncovered or which may be covered with a layer of transparent or translucent plastic. Such packages allow the consumer to inspect the articles contained therein.

It has been found, however, that when such packages are designed for visual inspection, they are also more easily tampered with. The articles contained therein may be easily removed by either ripping the covering or by simply slipping the article through uncovered viewing areas. A need has thus arisen for a tamper-proof package which would allow the consumer to visually inspect the contents. It is to this need that the present invention is directed.

It is important in such packages that they be readily available to the customer on display racks so that thecustomer can examine at his leisure the contents of the package, the descriptive material written thereon, the artists, etc. At the same time, the package should be such that it cannot easily be ripped open and the contents removed and cannot be easily hidden on the person ofa potential thief.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the package construction has one rather large opening which approximates the size of the article contained therein and which is covered by a relatively rigid piece of transparent plastic material. The plastic has a raised area which covers one of the faces and the four adjacent sides of the package. Flanges are situated on the plastic covering at its inner end, extend into the package interior, and are fastened to the interior wall of the package. A smaller article viewing area is situated on the opposed side of the package. It may be left uncovered, and it allows the other face of the package to be inspected. This second area is of smaller dimensions than the article thereby precluding removal of the article.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved package which may be displayed on display racks so that it is accessible to the customers. The package can be handled by the customer and the descriptive material thereof examined. At the same time, the package is of such construction that a potential thief cannot rip the package open to remove the contents or hide the package among his clothing.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of applicant's invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the completed package construction of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the various components of the completed package;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the difference between the dimensions of the smaller article viewing area and the dimensions of the article contained in the package;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the completed package taken along line 4-4 of FIG. I;

P16. 5 is a sectional view of the completed package taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the package showing the locking mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the package before it is folded;

FIG. 9 is a similar transverse sectional view showing the package after it is folded;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the package;

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the package of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is still another embodiment of the package.

The drawings show the completed package 1 that holds arti-. cle 2. A piece of plastic covering material 3 having a raised pocket 18 that is shaped to conform to the contours of the front 4 and sides 5 of article 2 covers a front opening 6 on the front side 7 of package 1. The body of package 1 may be made of cardboard or other suitable material. The plastic cover 3 is preferably transparent to allow for visual inspection and is fairly hard so that it is not easily torn. The back side 9 of package I has a rear opening 10 that allows visual inspection of the rear side 11 of article 2. It may be left uncovered if desired and is smaller in area than the area of the back of the article. FIG. 3 shows the difference between the dimensions of article 2 and rear opening 10.

The above construction insures a tamper-proof package which allows visual inspection of substantially all four sides of an article contained therein. The hard plastic covering 3is not easily torn, and it cannot be easily removed intact since flanges 12 at its inner end are fastened to the inside surface 13 of package 1. It is securely held against removal by portions 14 of package 1 which lie adjacent the centrally oriented opening 6. Article 2 also cannot be removed from the rear opening 10 when the package 1 is sealed since that opening is of smaller dimension than the article 2.

With the present package, the double thickness of the front and rear panel will prevent the panel from being torn open. In addition, the fact that the rear window is smaller than the front window will prevent the package from being removed from the rear. Yet the package can be handled by the customer, but is too large to be concealed.

As is best seen in FIG. 2, the package 1 is formed from a planar blank 15 which has a centrally disposed opening 6 and openings or cutouts or notches 10a and 10b on its opposed marginal flaps 16. When blank 15 is folded along hinge lines 17 and the flaps 16 of the blank 15 are brought together, the two cutouts 10a and 10b complement each other to form the smaller rear viewing opening 10.

The double thickness comprising the folded flapsand the central panel will prevent someone from easily tearing the package and removing the contents.

The front face of the blank may be provided with reading material such as the name of the company, etc. This material may be printed on the front face or it may be adhered thereto.

In order to manufacture the completed package 1, the plastic member 3 with its raised pocket 18 is placed against the inner surface of the blank 15 so that the raised pocket 18 extends through opening 6 and the flanges l2 lie against the inner surface 13 of package 1. The flanges 12 may be adhered to the areas around the opening. A pressure sensitive glue 19 can be applied to surfaces 13 to cement the plastic member 3 in this position. If desired, other means may be used for holding the plastic member 3 in position. Article 2 is then placed into the raised pocket 18 preferably with its front face 4 and side portions 5 facing outward. The blank 15 is then folded along hinge lines 17, and its marginal flaps 16 are brought together thus forming opening 10. Pressure sensitive glue may be placed on the inside surfaces of the flaps l6 anclv end portions 19 to cause them to adhere. Preferably, the entire rear face of the blank, i.e. the central panel and the two flaps, is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. This facilitates the production of the package. However, other types of adhesive can also be used. An opening 20 is found in the package to permit it to be hung.

While the package shown illustrates the rear openinglO being formed by the two complementary slots 10a and 10b, it

will be understood that it is possible to have the rear flaps of unequal length so that the rear opening is located in one flap only. It is also within the scope of the invention to have the rear panel consist of a single flap only with the opening formed therein. In addition, while the invention has been illustrated in the drawing as being used with a single package the invention can also be used to contain a plurality of packages. For example, the cover 3 may be large enough to accommodate more than one package. Alternatively, there may be spaced openings in the front panel to accommodate two separate covers.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the present invention may be used for packaging a pair of articles 2. in this embodiment, two openings are formed in the central panel and the side flaps 52 are each provided with a pair of notches 53a-53b and 54a54b whichwill form rear openings 53 and 54 superimposed on the front openings 50 when the flaps 52 are folded. Hence, a pair of articles 2 may be mounted in the package.

FIG. 11 shows the present invention adapted to accommodate four articles 2. In this case, there are four windows to 63 in the central panel 68 and two smaller windows --67 and 64-66 in the two side flaps 69 which will eventually be superimposed on the front windows 60 to 63 to hold the articles in place.

FIG. 12 shows a similar package for holding six articles. In this embodiment, six openings 70 to are formed in the central panel 76 and the side flaps 77 are provided with a pair of openings 7879 and 80-81 which when superimposed on central panel 82 overlie openings 70-73 and 7275 respectively. The side flaps 77 are also provided with notches 83a- 83b and 840-8412 to form rear openings overlying openings 71 and 74.

The same principles as shown in FIGS. 6, l1 and 12 can be used to make any number or combination ofwindows without departing from the present invention.

FIGS. 6-10 show another embodiment of the present invention for holding the plastic member or members in place. Opposed edges of the front window 50, preferably the longer edges 50a, are each provided with a tab 91. Opposed sidewalls 93 are each provided with a groove 94 into which these tabs 91 are adapted to be inserted. This locks the plastic member 3 in place. Preferably, the grooves 94 are adjacent the flange 95 of the plastic member 90 so that it will lie flush against the central panel 51.

It will be seen that the present invention forms a tamperproof, attractive package suitable for holding articles and for displaying them to the consumer. Such articles may be tape cassettes, film cartridges, etc. The relatively flat planar package allows visual inspection of the front, back and sides of the package while at the same time forming a tamper-proof package which prevents the cassettes from being pilfered.

It will be also seen that the present invention provides a package which is small enough for the customer to handle it and examine the contents. However, it is sturdy enough so that the package cannot be easily torn open and it is large enough so that it cannot easily be hidden.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

1. An article-containing package, said package comprising a front panel, a front opening in said front panel, a transparent covering over said front opening having a preformed raised pocket to receive an article, said covering having flanges which are attached to the interior surfaces of the package that lie adjacent the front opening, an uncovered rear opening on the other face aligned with the front opening, said rear opening being smaller in size than the size of an article mounted within said package, said rear opening being formed by a pair of substantially matching rear panels of substantially equal width hingedly extending from the edges of the front panel and having matching notches therein formed on the marginal edges of the two rear panels to form the rear opening, said rear panels being removably attached to the front panel in edgeabutting relation to hold the article in position.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1 in which the package is held together around the article by means of pressure sensitive 

